Kenny hopes for competitive derby

Kenny Dalglish has played down the animosity between Liverpool and Everton ahead of today's Merseyside derby.

Everton make the short trip to Anfield looking for their first Premier League win there since 1999. If that statistic suggests a lack of competitiveness in the fixture, the fact there have been 11 red cards in the last 14 league meetings between the sides tells a different story.

Dalglish said: "The derbies are perhaps more frantic and hectic but they will still be competitive. It will always be competitive but it is not malicious - and if it is not competitive you have a problem. You cannot take away the competitive spirit of a derby match. If you do that you may as well close the doors and not let anyone in."

Copyright (c) PA Sport 2012, All Rights Reserved.